Study title

Sixth Graders Online Credibility Evaluation Skills 2020-2021

Dataset ID Number

FSD3959

Persistent identifiers

https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3959
https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd3959

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Kiili, Carita (Tampere University)

Abstract

The data includes students' answers and scores for five different tests that examine their reading comprehension and ability to evaluate the reliability of online texts. The data was collected as part of Educating Critical Online Readers #CORE -project.

In the first test, a reading comprehension test, the students read an informational text and then answered 12 multiple-choice questions related to the text. In the word chain test, the students had to identify as many words as possible from chains of four words written together within a certain time limit. In the next test, the prior knowledge test, students answered 12 true-false statements about sugar and its effects based on their prior knowledge.

The students' ability to assess the reliability of websites was measured using a self-efficacy scale, which presented six statements related to the reliability of websites. As a final test, the students did a critical reading exercise where they read four different websites about the effects of sugar and had to assess the reliability of the websites through various statements and tasks. The instruments used are described in more detail in the Background Information form (bgF3959_fin.pdf) and the Questionnaire (quF3959_fin.pdf).

Background information include gender, age, language spoken at home, highest level of education attained by guardians, and school and class code.

Keywords

children; comprehension; evaluation; primary education; primary schools; reading skills; reading tests

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Compulsory and pre-school education (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Children (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Individual datasets

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (C) available only for research including master's theses.

Data Collector

• Kiili, Carita (Tampere University)

Funders

• Academy of Finland (324524)

Time Period Covered

2020 – 2021

Collection Dates

2020-10-20 – 2021-01-22

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

Students studying in the sixth grade in a Finnish primary school

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Non-probability: Purposive

The researchers contacted schools and the classes whose teachers wanted to participate in the study were selected for the study.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)

Educational measurements and tests

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Data File Language

Downloaded data package may contain different language versions of the same files.

The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: Finnish.

FSD translates quantitative data into English on request, free of charge. More information on ordering data translation.

Data Version

1.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

The material does not include the reading comprehension and word chain test materials and forms published by the Niilo Mäki Institute.

Weighting

There are no weight variables in the data.

Citation Requirement

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical Citation

Kiili, Carita (Tampere University): Sixth Graders Online Credibility Evaluation Skills 2020-2021 [dataset]. Data version 1.0 (2025-09-01). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd3959; URN: https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3959

Deposit Requirement

Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.

Disclaimer

The original data creators and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the reuse of the data.

Related Publications

Anttonen, R., Räikkönen, E., Kiili, K., & Kiili, C. (2024). Sixth graders evaluating online texts: Self-efficacy beliefs predict confirming but not questioning the credibility. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 68(6), 1214-1230. https://doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2023.2228834

Kiili, C., Strømsø, H. I., Bråten, I., Ruotsalainen, J., & Räikkönen, E. (2024). Reading comprehension skills and prior topic knowledge serve as resources when adolescents justify the credibility of multiple online texts. Reading Psychology, 45(7), 662-689. https://doi.org/10.1080/02702711.2024.2351485

Kiili, C., Räikkönen, E., Bråten, I., Strømsø, H. I., & Hagerman, M. S (2023). Examining the structure of credibility evaluation when sixth graders read online texts. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 39(3), 954-969. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcal.12779

Liu, Zhe (2023). Examining gender differences in basic and critical online reading skills. Pro gradu -tutkielma. Tampereen yliopisto. https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202305024907